Should a new WhisperFlo VST work with an Easytouch panel from 2011?

Jump to latest Follow Reply
T

topdown1999

Member
May 19, 2024
7
Woodridge, IL
Our original pump failed and was replaced by our pool installer with a new WhisperFlo VST (part number 011533). He has not been able to get the control panel to control the pump and claims we need to purchase a new control panel. I asked him whether a firmware update for the panel would help or even getting an Easytouch upgrade kit instead of a whole new panel. He didn't know if a firmeware update would work or how to do it and was not aware of the upgrade kit.

I'm a little concerned with those comments but mostly want to ask whether the new WhisperFlo VST SHOULD work with an Easytouch panel from 2011. Equipment details are below. Thanks to anyone with first hand knowledge of this pump working (or not working) with this panel.

I think the pump is wired correctly to the panel since it is picking up the correct time from the panel. I confirmed this by changing the time at the panel and seeing the change reflected on the pump.

Old pump: Whisperflo Dual Speed Full Rate 2 HP Pump - WFDS-8

New pump: WhisperFlo VST part number 011533

Panel: Easytouch 4P
Software: 2.080
Boot: 1.010
Installed with pool in 2011

Thank you very much for your help.
 
Top.

Drop the front panel down on the EasyTouch and find the label that shows the main card's F/W level..

I think it should work, but the F/W will tell us for sure.

I assume you have an RS-485 cable between the pump's control head and the EasyTouch's main card, J20. ???

Should not be the main issue, but VS pumps need constant AC power, did your know-nothing installer rewire the Pump/Filter relay, in the EasyTouch, so that it provides constant AC power to the pump?

For the pump to run several things have to happen..

1. The pump must be under the control of the EasyTouch
2. A circuit must be on.. Usually the Pool Circuit, but can be any circuit.
3. The circuit that is on, must have a speed assigned to it.. As in Pool = 1500 RPM.
4. The Pump type must be correct, in your case VS.. (I don't think there is an VST)
5. You must be in AUTO, you can NOT be in the Service mode.

Based on your installer's statement, I kind-of doubt he has a clue about what he is doing.

Do you have ScreenLogic or do you use Pentair remotes??

If you can, go out to the main panel and do the following..

Menu, Settings, IntelliFlo. Pump #1 (may not have this) then you should see at the top Pump Type = VS (Do Not change this no matter what it says right now..)
Then scroll down to speeds , you should see at least one speed
Then scroll down to status and see what it shows.

Let me know what you find..

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Last edited:
Jimrahbe said:
Top.

Drop the front panel down on the EasyTouch and find the label that shows the main card's F/W level..

I think it should work, but the F/W will tell us for sure.

I assume you have an RS-485 cable between the pump's control head and the EasyTouch's main card, J20. ???

Should not be the main issue, but VS pumps need constant AC power, did your know-nothing installer rewire the Pump/Filter relay, in the EasyTouch, so that it provides constant AC power to the pump?

For the pump to run several things have to happen..

1. The pump must be under the control of the EasyTouch
2. A circuit must be on.. Usually the Pool Circuit, but can be any circuit.
3. The circuit that is on, must have a speed assigned to it.. As in Pool = 1500 RPM.
4. The Pump type must be correct, in your case VS.. (I don't think there is an VST)
5. You must be in AUTO, you can NOT be in the Service mode.

Based on your installer's statement, I kind-of doubt he has a clue about what he is doing.

Do you have ScreenLogic or do you use Pentair remotes??

If you can, go out to the main panel and do the following..

Menu, Settings, IntelliFlo. Pump #1 (may not have this) then you should see at the top Pump Type = VS (Do Not change this no matter what it says right now..)
Then scroll down to speeds , you should see at least one speed
Then scroll down to status and see what it shows.

Let me know what you find..

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the response, Jim.

Firmware: the board has PCB Assy# 520484, Rev E printed on it. The control panel reports Software: 2.080. Boot: 1.010.

There is an RS-485 cable between the pump and control panel. The RS-485’s yellow and green wires are connected to J1. There is a 4-wire cable connected between J1 and J20.

I’m pretty sure the pump is in Auto mode - when I try to start program 1, the pump display flashes Auto.
In the Intelliflo menu, it shows:
Pump 1 type=FS
Speed is 2750
Circuit is POOL
RPM 0
Watts 0
Status: Normal

We normally control the system using the Pentair remote and the menu in the main panel.

If I disconnect the RS-485 cable between pump and panel, I can run the pump manually.

Everything was running normally until the old pump started to fail and was replaced last week. I'm hoping that the new pump is compatible with the old panel.

Thanks again for your response and help.

Larry B.
 
Larry,

Is that pump type a typo?? Or is it really "FS"

When you look at the little display on the EasyTouch, does it show the following????

AUTO
Pool
Air temp
Date


Let's ask Tom to look at the F/W. but it sure appears to me it should work. Calling @ogdento

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Larry,

It sounds like you have ticked off all the items necessary for the pump to run..

If your EasyTouch shows pump type and speeds then it sounds like it should be able to control the pump??

The only thing I can think of is that the EasyTouch wants the pump to have an RS-485 address of #1.. I suspect that the default is #1, but maybe someone changed it..

Look on page 8 of your pump manual and confirm the address is set to #1.. (This is inside the pump, and has nothing to do with the EasyTouch showing Pump #1..)

Also, on the pump, the Ext Control light must be OFF and the Start/Stop light must be ON..

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
The pump is set to #1 and the Ext Control light is off. I'll double check that the Start/Stop light is on. I'm 99% sure it's on.

From the information I've provided, can you confirm that the two devices are compatible? The first thing the installer told me was that I needed a new panel. I'd like to know how much to insist that he continues to work the issue versus buying a new panel.

Thanks again for helping me with this.

Larry B.
 
Larry,

I was hoping that Tom @ogdento might know for sure..

Based on the facts that you have provided, I don't see any obvious reason that the pump won't run???

Tom could provide you with a newer card, for not a ton of money, if your are interested..

Look on the pump's labels and see what the Mfg. date of the pump is..

Thanks

Jim R.
 
Hey Larry,
I can confirm that the pump should be set to VS, as Jim said.

In the firmware release notes for versions after 2.080 I do see some updates for Intelliflo VS pumps but nothing specific to the Whisperflo VST (I suspect the necessary changes to "speak Intelliflo" are all in the Whisperflo's brains). It is possible though that an updated firmware will help - I cannot confirm that though since I don't have a whisperflo VST.

It sounds like your comms are working if the pump is getting the correct time from the panel. Also, the hardware for your old easytouch board is exactly the same as the hardware for one built today - the firmware is the only difference. I can reprogram your firmware or you check out the thread on how to diy it.

Check the manual on page 5 for "TO WIRE FOR EXTERNAL CONTROL USING RS-485" to make sure those steps have been done.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
topdown1999 said:
Thank you for the information. I'll check out the wiring in the morning.
Click to expand...
Thank you guys for the detailed responses. I called Pentair this morning and was told the EasyTouch panel is definitely compatible with the Whisperflo VST pump with no minimum firmware level requirement on the panel. The tech I spoke with seemed to think the problem is the way the pump was wired to the panel. We have an EasyTouch remote which has a card in the panel that has a port labeled J1. J1 is cabled to J20 with all 4 wires. The yellow and green wires from the pump's RS-485 cable are connected to J1. Since J1 is jumped to J20, I would think the arrangement would be ok, but the Pentair tech was pretty sure it's a problem. Rather than make any changes to the system myself, I'm going to provide the tech's advice to my installer.

Thanks again for the responses. I've lurked on this board for a while and this was my first post. I'm amazed at the assistance provided.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jimrahbe
Glad you're getting what you need!

Just some additional notes for you/your installer...
1. if your remote is working, then we know your comms are good, i.e. the outdoor board's hardware is good - don't let them tell you you need a new outdoor board
2. connecting the pump's comm cable to j1 on the transceiver card will work just fine unless the connection isn't good (sometimes doubling up wires in a single screw-terminal is flaky).
3. you could do a quick test of your pump by connecting ONLY the pump comm cable to the j20 port on the outdoor board - i.e. without the remote transceiver connected - to see if it works. shut off the outdoor board before messing with the screw terminals!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jimrahbe
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply